Williams determined to build on Pumas tour
ENGLAND summer tour hero Harry Williams admits he left Argentina feeling dissatisfied with his performances and knows further improvement is needed if he is to challenge regular Red Rose tightheads Dan Cole and Kyle Sinckler.
After helping Exeter claim last season’s Premiership title, former Jersey prop Williams starred during England’s 2-0 series victory over the Pumas before retaining his place in Eddie Jones’ squad for the recent training camp in London.
However, no-nonsense Williams, 25, is his own biggest critic, saying: “Internationally, I felt I could have done a bit more and hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to prove that further down the line this season.
“As far as the tour and meeting all the coaches and players was concerned, Argentina was a very good experience. The games were amazing and I’ve never really had that kind of international pressure before. You’re representing something massive, millions of people, and you want to make them and your family proud.
“But playing-wise, I don’t think I showed the best of myself. I wasn’t unbelievably unhappy but I just felt I could have done more, as I did for Exeter at the end of last season, and I accept there was a little bit of teething trouble.
“I had the same thing in the Premiership when I first joined Exeter from Jersey, but things improve with experience and I’m hoping a good start to the season with Exeter will give me another chance to show that at Test level.”
Williams believes he returned from South America a better player, though, explaining: “It’s certainly improved me and I realise, as guys like Jack Nowell and Henry Slade did before, that being in a fresh environment adds stimulus.
“The hours when you’re outside your normal routine and go out on the field knowing you need to be at the top of your game is when you really push on. You have a different set of eyes on you, different coaches, and that helps.
“Eddie Jones is a straight shooter who tells you things honestly, but if you put in the maximum effort and perform well, you’re going to get on well with him. I found Neal Hatley and Paul Gustard were very good guys as well.
“I know what they expect now and while being involved with England again this November would be pleasant, I realise the premise of all success, both domestic and internationally, is totally based on my start at Exeter.”
Exeter’s huge challenge is to ensure last season’s title success was not a oneoff.
Williams, one of four international tight-heads at the club along with Tomas Francis (Wales), Greg Holmes (Australia) and Moray Low (Scotland), added: “Last season is 100 per cent forgotten now and we have to start again.
“We need to go out there and do what Chiefs do best, which is based around working hard for each other in attack and defence, but we feel like we’ve got a good squad and if we do that every week, we can be successful again.
“There’s a lot of competition at tight-head and that’s mirrored through the team. You feel we could field two XVs as good as each other and that high intensity in training is helping us get better, both individually and as a team.”